6-alkynyl-pyridine derivatives

ABSTRACT

6-Alkynyl-pyridine of general formula (I) 
                         
their use as SMAC mimetics, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and their use as a medicaments for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases characterized by excessive or abnormal cell proliferation and associated conditions such as cancer.
 
     An exemplary compound is

This invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I)

wherein the groups R¹ to R⁴ have the meanings given in the claims and inthe specification. The compounds of the invention are suitable for thetreatment of diseases characterized by excessive or abnormal cellproliferation, pharmaceutical preparations containing such compounds andtheir uses as a medicament. The compounds of the invention modulate IAPactivity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death, typically occurs in thenormal development and maintenance of healthy tissues in multicellularorganisms. It is a complex process, which results in the removal ofdamaged, diseased or developmentally redundant cells, without signs ofinflammation or necrosis. Apoptosis thus occurs as a normal part ofdevelopment, the maintenance of normal cellular homeostasis, or as aconsequence of stimuli such as chemotherapy and radiation.

The intrinsic apoptotic pathway is known to be deregulated in cancer andlymphoproliferative syndromes, as well as autoimmune disorders such asmultiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, alterationsin a host apoptotic response have been described in the development ormaintenance of viral and bacterial infections. Cancer cells gain theability to overcome or circumvent apoptosis and continue withinappropriate proliferation despite strong pro-apoptotic signals such ashypoxia, endogenous cytokines, radiation treatments and chemotherapy. Inautoimmune disease, pathogenic effector cells can become resistant tonormal apoptotic cues. Resistance can be caused by numerous mechanisms,including alterations in the apoptotic machinery due to increasedactivity of anti-apoptotic pathways or expression of anti-apoptoticgenes. Thus, approaches that reduce the threshold of apoptotic inductionin cancer cells by overcoming resistance mechanisms may be ofsignificant clinical utility.

Caspases serve as key effector molecules in apoptosis signaling.Caspases (cysteine containing aspartate specific proteases) are strongproteases and once activated, digest vital cell proteins from within thecell. Since caspases are highly active proteases, tight control of thisfamily of proteins is necessary to prevent premature cell death. Ingeneral, caspases are synthesized as largely inactive zymogens thatrequire proteolytic processing for activation. This proteolyticprocessing is only one of the ways in which caspases are regulated. Thesecond mechanism of regulation is through a family of proteins that bindand inhibit caspases.

One family of molecules that inhibit caspases are the Inhibitors ofApoptosis (IAP) (Deveraux et al., J Clin Immunol (1999), 19: 388-398).IAPs were originally discovered in baculovirus by their ability tosubstitute for P35 protein function, an anti-apoptotic gene (Crook etal. (1993) J Virology 67, 2168-2174). Human IAPs are characterized bythe presence of one to three homologous structural domains known asbaculovirus IAP repeat (BIR) domains. Some IAP family members alsocontain a RING zinc finger domain at the C-terminus, with the capabilityto ubiquitylate target proteins via their E3 ligase function. The humanIAPs, XIAP, HIAP1 (also referred to as cIAP2), and HIAP2 (cIAP1) eachhave three BIR domains, and a carboxy terminal RING zinc finger. AnotherIAP, NAIP, has three BIR domains (BIR1, BIR2 and BIR3), but no RINGdomain, whereas Livin, TsIAP and MLIAP have a single BIR domain and aRING domain. The X chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) is anexample of an IAP, which can inhibit the initiator caspase Caspase-9,and the effector caspases, Caspase-3 and Caspase-7, by direct binding.XIAP can also induce the degradation of caspases through theubiquitylation-mediated proteasome pathway via the E3 ligase activity ofa RING zinc finger domain Inhibition of Caspase-9 is mediated by theBIR3 domains of XIAP, whereas effector caspases are inhibited by bindingto the linker-BIR2 domain. The BIR domains also mediate the interactionsof IAPs with tumor necrosis factor-receptor associated factor (TRAFs)-Iand -2, and with TAB1, adaptor proteins affecting survival signalingthrough NFkB activation. IAP proteins can thus function as direct brakeson the apoptosis cascade by inhibiting active caspases or by redirectingcellular signaling to a pro-survival mode. Survivin is another member ofthe IAP family of antiapoptotic proteins. It is shown to be conserved infunction across evolution as homologues of the protein are found both invertebrates and invertebrates.

Cancer cells and cells involved in autoimmune disease may avoidapoptosis by the sustained over-expression of one or more members of theIAP family of proteins. For example, IAP overexpression has beendemonstrated to be prognostic of poor clinical outcome in multiplecancers, and decreased IAP expression through RNAi strategies sensitizestumor cells to a wide variety of apoptotic insults includingchemotherapy, radiotherapy and death receptor ligands. For XIAP, this isshown in cancers as diverse as leukemia and ovarian cancer. Overexpression of cIAP1 and cIAP2 resulting from the frequent chromosomeamplification of the 11q21-q23 region, which encompasses both genes, hasbeen observed in a variety of malignancies, including medulloblastomas,renal cell carcinomas, glioblastomas, and gastric carcinomas.

The interaction between the baculoviral IAP repeat-3 (BIR3) domain ofX-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) and caspase-9 is of therapeuticinterest because this interaction is inhibited by the NH2-terminalseven-amino-acid residues of the so-called “second mitochondrial-derivedactivator of caspase” (in short and hereinafter SMAC), a naturallyoccurring antagonist of IAPs. Small-molecule SMAC mimetics have beengenerated anticipating efficacy in cancer by reconstituting apoptoticsignaling.

Thus, there is the need to provide SMAC mimetics useful for theprevention and/or treatment of diseases characterized by excessive orabnormal cell proliferation, such as cancer.

The aim of the present invention is to provide new compounds which canbe used for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases characterized byexcessive or abnormal cell proliferation, in particular in the treatmentof cancer. The compounds according to the invention are characterized bya powerful inhibitory effect of IAP-SMAC protein-protein-interaction.

In addition to powerful inhibition of the IAP-SMACprotein-protein-interaction, for the development of pharmaceuticalproducts it is important that the active agent shows low inhibition ofP450 as recommended in the Guidelines of the FDA. It is desirable tohave compounds which show low inhibition of P450 isoenzymes ideally withIC50 values greater than 5 μM.

6-alkynyl-pyridine derivatives as SMAC mimetics or IAP inhibitors arealso described in WO 2013/127729.

Table 1 summarizes some examples of the prior art document WO2013/127729 which are characterized by a 6-membered heteroarylsubstituent attached to the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine in position 5 of thecentral pyridine ring together with their IC50 values representing theinhibition of the five P450 isoenzymes and their solubility values.

For the compounds of Table 1, it has been found that for 3-5 of fiveP450 isoenzymes the IC50 is lower than 5 μM.

As mentioned above the desirable range of the inhibition of the P450isoenzyme is an IC50 greater 5 μM. More preferably, for all of the fiveisoenzymes the IC50 is greater than 5 μM.

Accordingly, there is the need to provide compounds characterized by a6-membered heteroaryl substituent on an imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine inposition 5 of the central pyridine ring which show lower inhibition ofthe P450 isoenzymes, represented by IC50 values greater than 5 μM.

The compounds of the invention differ from the compounds of Table 1 inthat the 5-6 membered heteroaryl is further substituted with an alkylgroup or a oxyalkyl group.

Surprisingly, the compounds of the invention show lower P450 inhibitionmeaning that no or at maximum 2 of 5 P450 isoenzymes show inhibitoryvalues with IC50<5 μM.

Accordingly, the compounds of the invention show a powerful inhibitoryeffect of IAP-SMAC protein-protein-interaction and low inhibition of theP450 isoenzymes.

Preferred compounds of the invention are those which combine powerfulinhibition of IAP-SMAC protein-protein interaction, low inhibition ofthe P450 isoenzymes and solubility greater than 10 μg/ml at pH 6.8.

TABLE 1 Measured examples from WO 2013/127729 inhibit many P450isoenzymes already at concentrations below 5 μM and predominately showlow solubility at pH 6.8. Solubility Ex P450 P450 P450 P450 P450 pH 6.8# Structure 2C19 2C8 2C9 2D6 3A4 [μg/ml]  27

5.3 0.3 0.4 9.3 3.7  3  64

4.3 0.5 0.4 5.2 2.1 N/A  81

2.8 1.2 0.9 3.4 4.0  8  82

4.8 0.3 0.4 2.2 2.3 N/A  94

2.9 4.9 0.7 3.3 >50 N/A 185

16 1.7 4.8 2.7 3.0 60

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I)

wherein R¹ to R⁴ are as defined in the description and in the claims.The compounds according to formula (I) act as SMAC mimetics. Thus, thecompounds of the invention may be used for example for the treatment ofdiseases which are characterized by an increased apoptosis threshold dueto overexpression of IAP protein. Preferably, the compounds of theinvention can be used in the treatment of cancer.

The present invention therefore relates to compounds of general formula(I)

-   -   Wherein        -   R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen,            —C₁₋₃alkyl and halogen;        -   R² is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen,            —C₁₋₃alkyl and halogen;        -   R³ is selected from phenyl or a 9- to 14-membered heteroaryl            wherein each of these groups is optionally substituted with            R⁵ or        -   R³ is a phenyl moiety fused with a 5-6 membered            heterocycloalkyl, wherein each of these groups is optionally            and independently substituted with one or more R⁶;        -   R⁴ is a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl substituted with            —C₁₋₃alkyl or —O—C₁₋₃alkyl;        -   R⁵ is —C₁₋₃alkyl;        -   R⁶ is ═O or —C₁₋₃alkyl;

and wherein the compounds of formula (I) may optionally be present inthe form of salts.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R¹ is selected from hydrogen, —CH₃, —Cl.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R² is selected from —H, —CH₃, —Cl.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R¹ is hydrogen and R² is selected from hydrogen, —CH₃ andCl.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R⁴ is a 6-membered heteroaryl substituted with —C₁₋₃alkylor —O—C₁₋₃alkyl.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R⁴ is a 6-membered heteroaryl substituted with —CH₃ or—O—CH₃.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R⁴ is selected from pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazolyl,imidazolyl, each of which is independently substituted with —C₁₋₃alkylor —O—C₁₋₃alkyl.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R⁴ is selected from pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazolyl,imidazolyl, each of which is independently substituted with —CH₃ or—O—CH₃.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R⁴ is pyridyl substituted with —CH₃.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R⁴ is pyridyl substituted with —O—CH₃.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R⁴ is pyrimidinyl substituted with —CH₃.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R⁴ is pyrazolyl substituted with —CH₃.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R⁴ is imidazolyl substituted with —CH₃.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R³ is selected phenyl,

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R³ is

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to compounds of formula(I), wherein R³ is

In another aspect the invention relates to compounds of general formula(I) or of anyone of the embodiments as disclosed above for use in thetreatment of cancer.

In another aspect the invention relates to compounds of general formula(I) or of anyone of the embodiments as disclosed above—or thepharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof—for use as medicaments.

In another aspect the invention relates to compounds of general formula(I) or of anyone of the embodiments as disclosed above—or thepharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof—for use in the treatmentand/or prevention of cancer, infections, inflammations and autoimmunediseases.

In another aspect the invention relates to compounds of general formula(I) or of anyone of the embodiments as disclosed above—or thepharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof—for use in the treatmentand/or prevention of cancer, preferably of carcinomas of the breast, inparticular triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), prostate, brain orovary, non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC), melanomas, acute myeloidleukaemia (AML) and chronic lymphatic leukaemias (CLL).

In another aspect the invention relates to compounds of general formula(I) or of anyone of the embodiments as disclosed above—or thepharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof—for use in the treatmentand/or prevention of carcinomas of the breast, in particular triplenegative breast cancer (TNBC), prostate, brain or ovary, non-small-celllung carcinomas (NSCLC), melanomas, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) andchronic lymphatic leukaemias (CLL).

In another aspect the invention relates to a method for the treatmentand/or prevention of cancer comprising administering a therapeuticallyeffective amount of a compound of general formula (I) or of anyone ofthe embodiments as disclosed above—or one of the pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts thereof—to a human being.

In another aspect the invention relates to a method for the treatmentand/or prevention of carcinoma of the breast, in particular triplenegative breast cancer (TNBC), prostate, brain or ovary, non-small-celllung carcinomas (NSCLC), melanomas acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) andchronic lymphatic leukemias (CLL) comprising administering atherapeutically effective amount of a compound of general formula (I) orof anyone of the embodiments as disclosed above—or one of thepharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof—to a human being.

In another aspect the invention relates to a pharmaceutical preparationcontaining as active substance one or more compounds of general formula(I) or of anyone of the embodiments as disclosed above—or thepharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof—optionally in combination withconventional excipients and/or carriers.

In another aspect the invention relates to a pharmaceutical preparationcomprising a compound of general formula (I) or of anyone of theembodiments as disclosed above—or one of the pharmaceutically acceptablesalts thereof—and at least one other cytostatic or cytotoxic activesubstance, different from formula (I).

Definitions

Terms that are not specifically defined here have the meanings that areapparent to the skilled man in the light of the overall disclosure andthe context as a whole.

As used herein, the following definitions apply, unless statedotherwise:

In the groups, radicals, or moieties defined below, the number of carbonatoms is often specified preceding the group, for example, —C₁₋₅alkylmeans an alkyl group or radical having 1 to 5 carbon atoms. In general,for groups comprising two or more subgroups, the first named sub-groupis the radical attachment point, for example the substitutent—C₁₋₅alkyl-C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, means a C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl group which is boundto a C₁₋₅alkyl, the latter of which is bound to the core structure or tothe group to which the substitutent is attached.

The indication of the number of members in groups that contain one ormore heteroatom(s) (heteroalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl,heterocyclyl, heterocycylalkyl) relates to the total atomic number ofall the ring members or chain members or the total of all the ring andchain members.

The person skilled in the art will appreciate that substituent groupscontaining a nitrogen atom can also be indicated as amine or amino.Similarly, groups containing oxygen atom can also be indicated with-oxy, like for example alkoxy. Groups containing —C(O)— can also beindicated as carboxy; groups containing —NC(O)— can also be indicated asamide; groups containing —NC(O)N— can also be indicated as urea; groupscontaining —NS(O)₂— can also be indicated as sulfonamide.

Alkyl denotes monovalent, saturated hydrocarbon chains, which may bepresent in both linear and branched form. If an alkyl is substituted,the substitution may take place independently of one another, by mono-or polysubstitution in each case, on all the hydrogen-carrying carbonatoms.

The term “C₁₋₅-alkyl” includes for example methyl (Me; —CH₃), ethyl (Et;—CH₂CH₃), 1-propyl (n-propyl; n-Pr; —CH₂CH₂CH₃), 2-propyl (i-Pr;iso-propyl; —CH(CH₃)₂), 1-butyl (n-butyl; n-Bu; —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃),2-methyl-1-propyl (iso-butyl; i-Bu; —CH₂CH(CH₃)₂), 2-butyl (sec-butyl;sec-Bu; —CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃), 2-methyl-2-propyl (tert-butyl; t-Bu; —C(CH₃)₃),1-pentyl (n-pentyl; —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃), 2-pentyl (—CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₂CH₃),3-pentyl (—CH(CH₂CH₃)₂), 3-methyl-1-butyl (iso-pentyl; —CH₂CH₂CH(CH₃)₂),2-methyl-2-butyl (—C(CH₃)₂CH₂CH₃), 3-methyl-2-butyl (—CH(CH₃)CH(CH₃)₂),2,2-dimethyl-1-propyl (neo-pentyl; —CH₂C(CH₃)₃), 2-methyl-1-butyl(—CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃).

By the terms propyl, butyl, pentyl, etc. without any further definitionare meant saturated hydrocarbon groups with the corresponding number ofcarbon atoms, wherein all isomeric forms are included.

The above definition for alkyl also applies if alkyl is a part ofanother group such as for example C_(x-y)-alkylamino or C_(x-y)-alkyloxyor C_(x-y)-alkoxy, wherein C_(x-y)-alkyloxy and C_(x-y)-alkoxy indicatethe same group.

The term alkylene can also be derived from alkyl. Alkylene is bivalent,unlike alkyl, and requires two binding partners. Formally, the secondvalency is produced by removing a hydrogen atom in an alkyl.Corresponding groups are for example —CH₃ and —CH₂, —CH₂CH₃ and —CH₂CH₂or >CHCH₃ etc.

The term “C₁₋₄-alkylene” includes for example —(CH₂)—, —(CH₂—CH₂)—,—(CH(CH₃))—, —(CH₂—CH₂—CH₂)—, —(C(CH₃)₂)—, —(CH(CH₂CH₃))—,—(CH(CH₃)—CH₂)—, —(CH₂—CH(CH₃))—, —(CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂)—,—(CH₂—CH₂—CH(CH₃))—, —(CH(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂)—, —(CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂)—,—(CH₂—C(CH₃)₂)—, —(C(CH₃)₂—CH₂)—, —(CH(CH₃)—CH(CH₃))—,—(CH₂—CH(CH₂CH₃))—, —(CH(CH₂CH₃)—CH₂)—, —(CH(CH₂CH₂CH₃))—,—(CHCH(CH₃)₂)— and —C(CH₃)(CH₂CH₃)—.

Other examples of alkylene are methylene, ethylene, propylene,1-methylethylene, butylene, 1-methylpropylene, 1.1-dimethylethylene,1,2-dimethylethylene, pentylene, 1,1-dimethylpropylene,2,2-dimethylpropylene, 1,2-dimethylpropylene, 1,3-dimethylpropylene,etc.

By the generic terms propylene, butylene, pentylene, hexylene etc.without any further definition are meant all the conceivable isomericforms with the corresponding number of carbon atoms, i.e. propyleneincludes 1-methylethylene and butylene includes 1-methylpropylene,2-methylpropylene, 1,1-dimethylethylene and 1,2-dimethylethylene. Theabove definition for alkylene also applies if alkylene is part ofanother group such as for example in HO—C_(x-y)-alkylenamino orH₂N—C_(x-y)-alkylenoxy.

Unlike alkyl, alkenyl consists of at least two carbon atoms, wherein atleast two adjacent carbon atoms are joined together by a C—C doublebond. If in an alkyl as hereinbefore defined having at least two carbonatoms, two hydrogen atoms on adjacent carbon atoms are formally removedand the free valencies are saturated to form a second bond, thecorresponding alkenyl is formed.

Examples of alkenyl are vinyl (ethenyl), prop-1-enyl, allyl(prop-2-enyl), isopropenyl, but-1-enyl, but-2-enyl, but-3-enyl,2-methyl-prop-2-enyl, 2-methyl-prop-1-enyl, 1-methyl-prop-2-enyl,1-methyl-prop-1-enyl, 1-methylidenepropyl, pent-1-enyl, pent-2-enyl,pent-3-enyl, pent-4-enyl, 3-methyl-but-3-enyl, 3-methyl-but-2-enyl,3-methyl-but-1-enyl, hex-1-enyl, hex-2-enyl, hex-3-enyl, hex-4-enyl,hex-5-enyl, 2,3-dimethyl-but-3-enyl, 2,3-dimethyl-but-2-enyl,2-methylidene-3-methylbutyl, 2,3-dimethyl-but-1-enyl, hexa-1,3-dienyl,hexa-1,4-dienyl, penta-1,4-dienyl, penta-1,3-dienyl, buta-1,3-dienyl,2,3-dimethylbuta-1,3-diene etc.

By the generic terms propenyl, butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl, butadienyl,pentadienyl, hexa-dienyl, heptadienyl, octadienyl, nonadienyl,decadienyl etc. without any further definition are meant all theconceivable isomeric forms with the corresponding number of carbonatoms, i.e. propenyl includes prop-1-enyl and prop-2-enyl, butenylincludes but-1-enyl, but-2-enyl, but-3-enyl, 1-methyl-prop-1-enyl,1-methyl-prop-2-enyl etc.

Alkenyl may optionally be present in the cis or trans or E or Zorientation with regard to the double bond(s).

The above definition for alkenyl also applies when alkenyl is part ofanother group such as for example in C_(x-y)-alkenylamino orC_(x-y)-alkenyloxy.

Unlike alkylene, alkenylene consists of at least two carbon atoms,wherein at least two adjacent carbon atoms are joined together by a C—Cdouble bond. If in an alkylene as hereinbefore defined having at leasttwo carbon atoms, two hydrogen atoms at adjacent carbon atoms areformally removed and the free valencies are saturated to form a secondbond, the corresponding alkenylene is formed.

Examples of alkenylene are ethenylene, propenylene, 1-methylethenylene,butenylene, 1-methylpropenylene, 1,1-dimethylethenylene,1,2-dimethylethenylene, pentenylene, 1,1-dimethylpropenylene,2,2-dimethylpropenylene, 1,2-dimethylpropenylene,1,3-dimethylpropenylene, hexenylene etc.

By the generic terms propenylene, butenylene, pentenylene, hexenyleneetc. without any further definition are meant all the conceivableisomeric forms with the corresponding number of carbon atoms, i.e.propenylene includes 1-methylethenylene and butenylene includes1-methylpropenylene, 2-methylpropenylene, 1,1-dimethylethenylene and1,2-dimethylethenylene.

Alkenylene may optionally be present in the cis or trans or E or Zorientation with regard to the double bond(s).

The above definition for alkenylene also applies when alkenylene is apart of another group as in for example HO—C_(x-y)-alkenylenamino orH₂N—C_(x-y)-alkenylenoxy.

Unlike alkyl, alkynyl consists of at least two carbon atoms, wherein atleast two adjacent carbon atoms are joined together by a C—C triplebond. If in an alkyl as hereinbefore defined having at least two carbonatoms, two hydrogen atoms in each case at adjacent carbon atoms areformally removed and the free valencies are saturated to form twofurther bonds, the corresponding alkynyl is formed.

Examples of alkynyl are ethynyl, prop-1-ynyl, prop-2-ynyl, but-1-ynyl,but-2-ynyl, but-3-ynyl, 1-methyl-prop-2-ynyl, pent-1-ynyl, pent-2-ynyl,pent-3-ynyl, pent-4-ynyl, 3-methyl-but-1-ynyl.

By the generic terms propynyl, butynyl, pentynyl, etc. without anyfurther definition are meant all the conceivable isomeric forms with thecorresponding number of carbon atoms, i.e. propynyl includes prop-1-ynyland prop-2-ynyl, butynyl includes but-1-ynyl, but-2-ynyl, but-3-ynyl,1-methyl-prop-1-ynyl, 1-methyl-prop-2-ynyl.

If a hydrocarbon chain carries both at least one double bond and also atleast one triple bond, by definition it belongs to the alkynyl subgroup.

The above definition for alkynyl also applies if alkynyl is part ofanother group, as in C_(x-y)-alkynylamino or C_(x-y)-alkynyloxy, forexample.

Unlike alkylene, alkynylene consists of at least two carbon atoms,wherein at least two adjacent carbon atoms are joined together by a C—Ctriple bond. If in an alkylene as hereinbefore defined having at leasttwo carbon atoms, two hydrogen atoms in each case at adjacent carbonatoms are formally removed and the free valencies are saturated to formtwo further bonds, the corresponding alkynylene is formed.

Examples of alkynylene are ethynylene, propynylene, 1-methylethynylene,butynylene, 1-methylpropynylene, 1,1-dimethylethynylene,1,2-dimethylethynylene, pentynylene, 1,1-dimethylpropynylene,2,2-dimethylpropynylene, 1,2-dimethylpropynylene,1,3-dimethylpropynylene, hexynylene etc.

By the generic terms propynylene, butynylene, pentynylene, ect. withoutany further definition are meant all the conceivable isomeric forms withthe corresponding number of carbon atoms, i.e. propynylene includes1-methylethynylene and butynylene includes 1-methylpropynylene,2-methylpropynylene, 1,1-dimethylethynylene and 1,2-dimethylethynylene.

The above definition for alkynylene also applies if alkynylene is partof another group, as in HO—C_(x-y)-alkynyleneamino orH₂N—C_(x-y)-alkynyleneoxy, for example.

By heteroatoms are meant oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur atoms.

Haloalkyl (haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl) is derived from the previouslydefined alkyl (alkenyl, alkynyl) by replacing one or more hydrogen atomsof the hydrocarbon chain independently of one another by halogen atoms,which may be identical or different. If a haloalkyl (haloalkenyl,haloalkynyl) is to be further substituted, the substitutions may takeplace independently of one another, in the form of mono- orpolysubstitutions in each case, on all the hydrogen-carrying carbonatoms.

Examples of haloalkyl (haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl) are —CF₃, —CHF₂, —CH₂F,—CF₂CF₃, —CHFCF₃, —CH₂CF₃, —CF₂CH₃, —CHFCH₃, —CF₂CF₂CF₃, —CF₂CH₂CH₃,—CF═CF₂, —CCl═CH₂, —CBr═CH₂, —Cl═CH₂, —CHFCH₂CH₃, —CHFCH₂CF₃ etc.

From the previously defined haloalkyl (haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl) arealso derived the terms haloalkenyl (haloalkenylene, haloalkynylene).Haloalkylene (haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl), unlike haloalkyl, is bivalentand requires two binding partners. Formally, the second valency isformed by removing a hydrogen atom from a haloalkyl.

Corresponding groups are for example —CH₂F and —CHF—, —CHFCH₂F and—CHFCHF— or >CFCH₂F etc.

The above definitions also apply if the corresponding halogen groups arepart of another group.

Halogen relates to fluorine, chlorine, bromine and/or iodine atoms.

Cycloalkyl is made up of the subgroups monocyclic hydrocarbon rings,bicyclic hydrocarbon rings and spiro-hydrocarbon rings. The systems aresaturated. In bicyclic hydrocarbon rings two rings are joined togetherso that they have at least two carbon atoms together. Inspiro-hydrocarbon rings a carbon atom (spiroatom) belongs to two ringstogether. If a cycloalkyl is to be substituted, the substitutions maytake place independently of one another, in the form of mono- orpolysubstitutions in each case, on all the hydrogen-carrying carbonatoms. Cycloalkyl itself may be linked as a substituent to the moleculevia every suitable position of the ring system.

Examples of cycloalkyl are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl,cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, bicyclo[2.2.0]hexyl, bicyclo[3.2.0]heptyl,bicyclo[3.2.1]octyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl, bicyclo[4.3.0]nonyl(octahydroindenyl), bicyclo[4.4.0]decyl (decahydronaphthalene),bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl (norbornyl), bicyclo[4.1.0]heptyl (norcaranyl),bicyclo-[3.1.1]heptyl (pinanyl), spiro[2.5]octyl, spiro[3.3]heptyl etc.

The above definition for cycloalkyl also applies if cycloalkyl is partof another group as in C_(x-y)-cycloalkylamino or C_(x-y)-cycloalkyloxy,for example.

If the free valency of a cycloalkyl is saturated, then an alicyclicgroup is obtained.

The term cycloalkylene can thus be derived from the previously definedcycloalkyl. Cycloalkylene, unlike cycloalkyl, is bivalent and requirestwo binding partners. Formally, the second valency is obtained byremoving a hydrogen atom from a cycloalkyl. Corresponding groups are forexample cyclohexyl and

(cyclohexylene). The above definition for cycloalkylene also applies ifcycloalkylene is part of another group as inHO—C_(x-y)-cycloalkyleneamino or H₂N—C_(x-y)-cycloalkyleneoxy, forexample.

Cycloalkenyl is also made up of the subgroups monocyclic hydrocarbonrings, bicyclic hydrocarbon rings and spiro-hydrocarbon rings. However,the systems are unsaturated, i.e. there is at least one C—C double bondbut no aromatic system. If in a cycloalkyl as hereinbefore defined twohydrogen atoms at adjacent cyclic carbon atoms are formally removed andthe free valencies are saturated to form a second bond, thecorresponding cycloalkenyl is obtained. If a cycloalkenyl is to besubstituted, the substitutions may take place independently of oneanother, in the form of mono- or polysubstitutions in each case, on allthe hydrogen-carrying carbon atoms. Cycloalkenyl itself may be linked asa substituent to the molecule via every suitable position of the ringsystem.

Examples of cycloalkenyl are cycloprop-1-enyl, cycloprop-2-enyl,cyclobut-1-enyl, cyclobut-2-enyl, cyclopent-1-enyl, cyclopent-2-enyl,cyclopent-3-enyl, cyclohex-1-enyl, cyclohex-2-enyl, cyclohex-3-enyl,cyclohept-1-enyl, cyclohept-2-enyl, cyclohept-3-enyl, cyclohept-4-enyl,cyclobuta-1,3-dienyl, cyclopenta-1,4-dienyl, cyclopenta-1,3-dienyl,cyclopenta-2,4-dienyl, cyclohexa-1,3-dienyl, cyclohexa-1,5-dienyl,cyclohexa-2,4-dienyl, cyclohexa-1,4-dienyl, cyclohexa-2,5-dienyl,bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-dienyl (norborna-2,5-dienyl),bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-enyl (norbornenyl), spiro[4.5]dec-2-ene etc.

The above definition for cycloalkenyl also applies when cycloalkenyl ispart of another group as in C_(x-y)-cycloalkenylamino orC_(x-y)-cycloalkenyloxy, for example.

If the free valency of a cycloalkenyl is saturated, then an unsaturatedalicyclic group is obtained.

The term cycloalkenylene can thus be derived from the previously definedcycloalkenyl. Cycloalkenylene, unlike cycloalkenyl, is bivalent andrequires two binding partners. Formally the second valency is obtainedby removing a hydrogen atom from a cycloalkenyl. Corresponding groupsare for example cyclopentenyl and

(cyclopentenylene) etc.

The above definition for cycloalkenylene also applies whencycloalkenylene is part of another group as inHO—C_(x-y)-cycloalkenyleneamino or H₂N—C_(x-y)-cycloalkenyleneoxy, forexample.

Aryl denotes a mono-, bi- or tricyclic group with at least one aromaticcarbocycle. Preferably it denotes a monocyclic group with six carbonatoms (phenyl) or a bicyclic group with nine or ten carbon atoms (twosix-membered rings or one six-membered ring with a five-membered ring),wherein the second ring may also be aromatic or, however, may also besaturated or partially saturated. If an aryl is to be substituted, thesubstitutions may take place independently of one another, in the formof mono- or polysubstitutions in each case, on all the hydrogen-carryingcarbon atoms. Aryl itself may be linked as a substituent to the moleculevia every suitable position of the ring system.

Examples of aryl are phenyl, naphthyl, indanyl (2,3-dihydroindenyl),indenyl, anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl, tetrahydronaphthyl(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl, tetralinyl), dihydronaphthyl(1,2-dihydronaphthyl), fluorenyl etc.

The above definition of aryl also applies when aryl is part of anothergroup as in arylamino or aryloxy, for example.

If the free valency of an aryl is saturated, then an aromatic group isobtained.

The term arylene can also be derived from the previously defined aryl.Arylene, unlike aryl, is bivalent and requires two binding partners.Formally, the second valency is formed by removing a hydrogen atom froman aryl. Corresponding groups are e.g. phenyl and

(o, m, p-phenylene), naphthyl and

etc.

The above definition for arylene also applies when arylene is part ofanother group as in HO-aryleneamino or H₂N-aryleneoxy for example.

Heterocyclyl denotes ring systems, which are derived from the previouslydefined cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and aryl by replacing one or more ofthe groups —CH₂— independently of one another in the hydrocarbon ringsby the groups —O—, —S— or —NH— or by replacing one or more of the groups═CH— by the group ═N—, wherein a total of not more than five heteroatomsmay be present, at least one carbon atom may be present between twooxygen atoms and between two sulphur atoms or between one oxygen and onesulphur atom and the ring as a whole must have chemical stability.Heteroatoms may optionally be present in all the possible oxidationstages (sulphur→sulphoxide —SO, sulphone —SO₂—; nitrogen→N-oxide).

A direct result of the derivation from cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and arylis that heterocyclyl is made up of the subgroups monocyclic heterorings,bicyclic heterorings, tricyclic heterorings and spiro-heterorings, whichmay be present in saturated or unsaturated form. Saturated andunsaturated, non-aromatic, heterocyclyl are also defined asheterocycloalkyl. By unsaturated is meant that there is at least onedouble bond in the ring system in question, but no heteroaromatic systemis formed. In bicyclic heterorings two rings are linked together so thatthey have at least two (hetero)atoms in common. In spiro-heterorings acarbon atom (spiroatom) belongs to two rings together. If a heterocyclylis substituted, the substitutions may take place independently of oneanother, in the form of mono- or polysubstitutions in each case, on allthe hydrogen-carrying carbon and/or nitrogen atoms. Heterocyclyl itselfmay be linked as a substituent to the molecule via every suitableposition of the ring system. When the heterocyclyl has a nitrogen atom,the preferred position to bind the heterocyclyl substituent to themolecule is the nitrogen atom.

Examples of heterocyclyl are tetrahydrofuryl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolinyl,imidazolidinyl, thiazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, pyrazolinyl,piperidinyl, piperazinyl, oxiranyl, aziridinyl, azetidinyl,1,4-dioxanyl, azepanyl, diazepanyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl,homomorpholinyl, homopiperidinyl, homopiperazinyl, homothiomorpholinyl,thiomorpholinyl-S-oxide, thiomorpholinyl-S,S-dioxide, 1,3-dioxolanyl,tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl, [1.4]-oxazepanyl,tetrahydrothienyl, homothiomorpholinyl-S,S-dioxide, oxazolidinonyl,dihydropyrazolyl, dihydropyrrolyl, dihydropyrazinyl, dihydropyridyl,dihydro-pyrimidinyl, dihydrofuryl, dihydropyranyl,tetrahydrothienyl-S-oxide, tetrahydrothienyl-S,S-dioxide,homothiomorpholinyl-S-oxide, 2,3-dihydroazet, 2H-pyrrolyl, 4H-pyranyl,1,4-dihydropyridinyl, 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octyl,8-azabicyclo[5.1.0]octyl, 2-oxa-5-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl,8-oxa-3-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octyl, 3,8-diaza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octyl,2,5-diaza-bicyclo[42.2.1]heptyl, 1-aza-bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl,3,8-diaza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octyl, 3,9-diaza-bicyclo[4.2.1]nonyl,2,6-diaza-bicyclo[3.2.2]-nonyl, 1,4-dioxa-spiro[4.5]decyl,1-oxa-3.8-diaza-spiro[4.5]decyl, 2,6-diaza-spiro[3.3]-heptyl,2,7-diaza-spiro[4.4]nonyl, 2,6-diaza-spiro[3.4]octyl,3,9-diaza-spiro[5.5]undecyl, 2.8-diaza-spiro[4.5]decyl etc.

Further examples are the structures illustrated below, which may beattached via each hydrogen-carrying atom (exchanged for hydrogen):

The above definition of heterocyclyl also applies if heterocyclyl ispart of another group as in heterocyclylamino or heterocyclyloxy forexample.

If the free valency of a heterocyclyl is saturated, then a heterocyclicgroup is obtained.

The term heterocyclylene is also derived from the previously definedheterocyclyl. Heterocyclylene, unlike heterocyclyl, is bivalent andrequires two binding partners. Formally, the second valency is obtainedby removing a hydrogen atom from a heterocyclyl. Corresponding groupsare for example piperidinyl and

2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolyl and

etc.

The above definition of heterocyclylene also applies if heterocyclyleneis part of another group as in HO-heterocyclyleneamino orH₂N-heterocyclyleneoxy for example.

Heteroaryl denotes monocyclic heteroaromatic rings or polycyclic ringswith at least one heteroaromatic ring, which compared with thecorresponding aryl or cycloalkyl (cycloalkenyl) contain, instead of oneor more carbon atoms, one or more identical or different heteroatoms,selected independently of one another from among nitrogen, sulphur andoxygen, wherein the resulting group must be chemically stable. Theprerequisite for the presence of heteroaryl is a heteroatom and aheteroaromatic system. If a heteroaryl is to be substituted, thesubstitutions may take place independently of one another, in the formof mono- or polysubstitutions in each case, on all the hydrogen-carryingcarbon and/or nitrogen atoms. Heteroaryl itself may be linked as asubstituent to the molecule via every suitable position of the ringsystem, both carbon and nitrogen.

Examples of heteroaryl are furyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl,thiazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl,tetrazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyridazinyl,pyrazinyl, triazinyl, pyridyl-N-oxide, pyrrolyl-N-oxide,pyrimidinyl-N-oxide, pyridazinyl-N-oxide, pyrazinyl-N-oxide,imidazolyl-N-oxide, isoxazolyl-N-oxide, oxazolyl-N-oxide,thiazolyl-N-oxide, oxadiazolyl-N-oxide, thiadiazolyl-N-oxide,triazolyl-N-oxide, tetrazolyl-N-oxide, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl,benzothienyl, benzoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzisoxazolyl,benzisothiazolyl, benzimidazolyl, indazolyl, isoquinolinyl, quinolinyl,quinoxalinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, quinazolinyl, benzotriazinyl,indolizinyl, oxazolopyridyl, imidazopyridyl, naphthyridinyl,benzoxazolyl, pyridopyridyl, purinyl, pteridinyl, benzothiazolyl,imidazopyridyl, imidazothiazolyl, quinolinyl-N-oxide, indolyl-N-oxide,isoquinolyl-N-oxide, quinazolinyl-N-oxide, quinoxalinyl-N-oxide,phthalazinyl-N-oxide, indolizinyl-N-oxide, indazolyl-N-oxide,benzothiazolyl-N-oxide, benzimidazolyl-N-oxide etc.

Further examples are the structures illustrated below, which may beattached via each hydrogen-carrying atom (exchanged for hydrogen):

The above definition of heteroaryl also applies when heteroaryl is partof another group as in heteroarylamino or heteroaryloxy, for example.

If the free valency of a heteroaryl is saturated, a heteroaromatic groupis obtained.

The term heteroarylene can therefore be derived from the previouslydefined heteroaryl. Heteroarylene, unlike heteroaryl, is bivalent andrequires two binding partners. Formally, the second valency is obtainedby removing a hydrogen atom from a heteroaryl. Corresponding groups arefor example pyrrolyl and

etc.

The above definition of heteroarylene also applies when heteroarylene ispart of another group as in HO-heteroaryleneamino orH₂N-heteroaryleneoxy, for example.

The bivalent groups mentioned above (alkylene, alkenylene, alkynyleneetc.) may also be part of composite groups (e.g. H₂N—C₁₋₄alkylene- orHO—C₁₋₄alkylene-). In this case one of the valencies is saturated by theattached group (here: —NH₂, —OH), so that a composite group of this kindwritten in this way is only a monovalent substituent over all.

By substituted is meant that a hydrogen atom which is bound directly tothe atom under consideration, is replaced by another atom or anothergroup of atoms (substituent). Depending on the starting conditions(number of hydrogen atoms) mono- or polysubstitution may take place onone atom. Substitution with a particular substituent is only possible ifthe permitted valencies of the substituent and of the atom that is to besubstituted correspond to one another and the substitution leads to astable compound (i.e. to a compound which is not convertedspontaneously, e.g. by rearrangement, cyclisation or elimination).

Bivalent substituents such as ═S, ═NR, ═NOR, ═NNRR, ═NN(R)C(O)NRR, ═N₂or the like, may only be substituted at carbon atoms, wherein thebivalent substituent ═O may also be a substituent at sulphur. Generally,substitution may be carried out by a bivalent substituent only at ringsystems and requires replacement by two geminal hydrogen atoms, i.e.hydrogen atoms that are bound to the same carbon atom that is saturatedprior to the substitution. Substitution by a bivalent substituent istherefore only possible at the group —CH²⁻ or sulphur atoms of a ringsystem.

Stereochemistry/Solvates/Hydrates: Unless stated otherwise a structuralformula given in the description or in the claims or a chemical namerefers to the corresponding compound itself, but also encompasses thetautomers, stereoisomers, optical and geometric isomers (e.g.enantiomers, diastereomers, E/Z isomers, etc.), racemates, mixtures ofseparate enantiomers in any desired combinations, mixtures ofdiastereomers, mixtures of the forms mentioned hereinbefore (if suchforms exist) as well as salts, particularly pharmaceutically acceptablesalts thereof. The compounds and salts according to the invention may bepresent in solvated form (e.g. with pharmaceutically acceptable solventssuch as e.g. water, ethanol etc.) or in unsolvated form. Generally, forthe purposes of the present invention the solvated forms, e.g. hydrates,are to be regarded as of equal value to the unsolvated forms.

Salts: The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” is used herein to denotecompounds, materials, compositions and/or formulations which aresuitable, according to generally recognised medical opinion, for use inconjunction with human and/or animal tissue and do not have or give riseto any excessive toxicity, irritation or immune response or lead toother problems or complications, i.e. correspond overall to anacceptable risk/benefit ratio.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” relates to derivatives ofthe chemical compounds disclosed in which the parent compound ismodified by the addition of acid or base. Examples of pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts include (without being restricted thereto) salts ofmineral or organic acids in relation to basic functional groups such asfor example amines, alkali metal or organic salts of acid functionalgroups such as for example carboxylic acids, etc. These salts include inparticular acetate, ascorbate, benzenesulphonate, benzoate, besylate,bicarbonate, bitartrate, bromide/hydrobromide, Ca-edetate/edetate,camsylate, carbonate, chloride/hydrochloride, citrate, edisylate, ethanedisulphonate, estolate, esylate, fumarate, gluceptate, gluconate,glutamate, glycolate, glycollylarsnilate, hexylresorcinate, hydrabamine,hydroxymaleate, hydroxynaphthoate, iodide, isothionate, lactate,lactobionate, malate, maleate, mandelate, methanesulphonate, mesylate,methylbromide, methylnitrate, methylsulphate, mucate, napsylate,nitrate, oxalate, pamoate, pantothenate, phenyl acetate,phosphate/diphosphate, polygalacturonate, propionate, salicylate,stearate, subacetate, succinate, sulphamide, sulphate, tannate,tartrate, teoclate, toluenesulphonate, triethiodide, ammonium,benzathine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, ethylenediamine,meglumin and procaine. Other pharmaceutically acceptable salts may beformed with cations of metals such as aluminium, calcium, lithium,magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, etc. (cf. also Pharmaceutical salts,Birge, S. M. et al., J. Pharm. Sci., (1977), 66, 1-19).

The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the present invention may beprepared starting from the parent compound, which carries a basic oracidic functionality, by conventional chemical methods. Generally, suchsalts may be synthesised by reacting the free acid or base form of thesecompounds with a sufficient amount of the corresponding base or acid inwater or an organic solvent such as for example ether, ethyl acetate,ethanol, isopropanol, acetonitrile (or mixtures thereof).

Salts of acids other than those mentioned above, which are useful forexample for purifying or isolating the compounds from the reactionmixtures (e.g. trifluoroacetates), are also to be regarded as part ofthe invention.

In a representation such as for example

the letter A has the function of a ring designation in order to make iteasier, for example, to indicate the attachment of the ring in questionto other rings.

For bivalent groups in which it is crucial to determine which adjacentgroups they bind and with which valency, the corresponding bindingpartners are indicated in brackets, where necessary for clarificationpurposes, as in the following representations:

or (R²)—C(O)NH— or (R²)—NHC(O)—;

Groups or substituents are frequently selected from among a number ofalternative groups/substituents with a corresponding group designation(e.g. R^(a), R^(b) etc). If such a group is used repeatedly to define acompound according to the invention in different molecular parts, itmust always be borne in mind that the various uses are to be regarded astotally independent of one another.

By a therapeutically effective amount for the purposes of this inventionis meant a quantity of substance that is capable of obviating symptomsof illness or of preventing or alleviating these symptoms, or whichprolong the survival of a treated patient.

List of abbreviations ACN acetonitrile Bu butyl conc. concentrated dday(s) DCM dichloromethane Et ethyl EtOAc Ethyl acetate h hour(s) HPLChigh performance liquid chromatography iPr isopropyl M molar Me methylmin minute(s) mL millilitre MS mass spectrometry N normal NMPN-methylpyrrolindinone NMR nuclear resonance spectroscopy NP normalphase ppm part per million prep preparative R_(f) retention factor RPreversed phase RT room temperature tert tertiary TFA trifluoroaceticacid THF tetrahydrofuran TLC thin layer chromatography tR retention time

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed examples which exemplarilyillustrate the principles of the invention without restricting itsscope.

General

Unless stated otherwise, all the reactions are carried out incommercially obtainable apparatuses using methods that are commonly usedin chemical laboratories. Starting materials that are sensitive to airand/or moisture are stored under protective gas and correspondingreactions and manipulations therewith are carried out under protectivegas (nitrogen or argon).

The compounds according to the invention are named in accordance withIUPAC guidelines. If a compound is to be represented both by astructural formula and by its nomenclature, in the event of a conflictthe structural formula is decisive.

Chromatography

Thin layer chromatography is carried out on ready-made TLC plates ofsilica gel 60 on glass (with fluorescence indicator F-254) made byMerck.

A Biotage Isolera Four apparatus is used for automated preparative NPchromatography together with Interchim Puri Flash columns (50 μm, 12-300g) or glass columns filled with silica gel made by Millipore (GranulaSilica Si-60A 35-70 μm).

Preparative RP HPLC is carried out with columns made by Waters (SunfireC18, 10 μm, 30×100 mm Part. No. 186003971 or X-Bridge C18, 10 μm, 30×100mm Part. No. 186003930). The compounds are eluted using either differentgradients of H₂O/acetonitrile or H₂O/MeOH, where 0.2% HCOOH is added tothe water, or with different gradients utilizing a basic aqueous buffersolution (1 L water contains 5 mL of an ammonium hydrogencarbonatesolution (158 g per 1 L H₂O) and 2 mL ammonia (7 mol/l solution inMeOH)) instead of the water-HCOOH-mixture.

The analytical HPLC (reaction monitoring) of intermediate compounds iscarried out with columns made by Agilent and Waters. The analyticalequipment is also provided with a mass detector in each case.

HPLC Mass Spectroscopy/UV Spectrometry

The retention times/MS-ESI⁺ for characterising the example compoundsaccording to the invention are determined using an HPLC-MS apparatus(high performance liquid chromatography with mass detector) made byAgilent. Compounds that elute at the injection peak are given theretention time tR=0.

Analytical HPLC Methods (A.M.)

Method_1 (M_1)

-   -   HPLC: Agilent 1100 Series    -   MS: Agilent LC/MSD SL    -   Column: Waters, Xbridge C18, 2.5 μm, 2.1×20 mm, Part. No.        186003201    -   Solvent: A: 20 mM NH₄HCO₃/NH₃        -   B: ACN HPLC grade    -   Detection: MS: Positive and negative    -   Mass range: 120-800 m/z    -   Injection: 5 μL    -   Flow: 1.00 mL/min    -   Column temp.: 60° C.

Gradient: 0.00-1.50 min 10% → 95% B 1.50-2.00 min 95% B 2.00-2.10 min95% → 10% B

Method_2 (M_2)

-   -   HPLC: Agilent 1100/1200 Series    -   MS: Agilent LC/MSD SL    -   Column: Waters X-Bridge BEH C18, 2.5 μm, 2.1×30 mm    -   Eluant: A: 5 mM NH₄HCO₃/19 mM NH₃ in H₂O; B: ACN (HPLC grade)    -   Detection: MS: Positive and negative mode ESI    -   Mass range: 100-800 m/z    -   Flow: 1.4 ml/min    -   Column temp.: 45° C.

Gradient: 0.00-0.01 min: 5% B 0.01-1.00 min: 5% → 100% B 1.00-1.37 min:100% B 1.37-1.40 min: 100% → 5% B

Method_3 (M_3)

-   -   HPLC: Agilent 1100 Series    -   MS: Agilent LC/MSD SL    -   Column: WatersXBridge C18, 5.0 μm, 2.1×50 mm    -   Eluant: A: 5 mM NH₄HCO₃/19 mM NH₃ in H₂O; B: ACN (HPLC grade)    -   Detection: MS: Positive and negative mode ESI    -   Mass range: 105-1200 m/z    -   Flow: 1.20 ml/min    -   Column temp.: 35° C.

Gradient: 0.00-0.01 min: 5% B 0.01-1.25 min: 5% → 95% B 1.25-2.00 min:95% B 2.00-2.01 min: 95% → 5% B

Method_4 (M_4)

-   -   HPLC: Agilent 1100/1200 Series    -   MS: Agilent LC/MSD SL    -   Column: Waters Sunfire, C18, 5.0 μm, 2.1×50 mm, Part. No.        186002539    -   Eluant: A: H₂O+0.2% HCOOH; B: ACN    -   Detection: MS: Positive and negative mode ESI    -   Mass range: 105-1200 m/z    -   Flow: 1.20 ml/min    -   Column temp.: 35° C.

Gradient: 0.00-0.01 min: 5% B 0.01-1.50 min: 5% → 95% B 1.50-2.00 min:100% B

Preparation of the Compounds According to the Invention

The compounds according to the invention are prepared by methods ofsynthesis described hereinafter, in which the substituents of thegeneral formulae have the meanings given hereinbefore. These methods areintended as an illustration of the invention, without restricting itssubject matter and the scope of the compounds claimed to these examples.Where the preparation of starting compounds is not described, they arecommercially obtainable or may be prepared analogously to knowncompounds or methods described herein. Substances described inliterature are prepared according to the published methods.

One method for the preparation of compounds of formula (I) isexemplified in Scheme I: 5,6-dibromopyridin-2-amine A is coupled with atrialkylsilylacetylene to obtain an intermediate B which is convertedinto intermediate C via amidation. The boronic acid D can be obtainedthrough a Miyaura borylation reaction. By utilizing Suzuki couplingreactions, the boronic acid D can then be either transformed directlyinto compound F or intermediate E is synthesized first and F can beobtained in a succeeding step in which the Ry-bromo moiety istransformed into the final Rx group. A desilylation reaction leads tointermediate G which is converted into H e.g. via Sonogashira coupling.Finally, compounds of the formula (I) are obtained via deprotectionreaction. The products are isolated by conventional means and preferablypurified by chromatography.

Preparation of Compounds B B1)5-bromo-6-[2-tri(propan-2-yl)silylethynyl]pyridin-2-amine

Under argon atmosphere a mixture of 5,6-dibromopyridin-2-amine (60 g,233 mmol), ethynyl-tri(propan-2-yl)silane (64 ml, 285 mmol), copper(I)iodide (1.5 g, 7.88 mmol), triethylamine (80 ml, 577 mmol), ACN (200ml), THF (100 ml) and dichlorobis(triphenyl-phosphine)palladium(II) (4.0g, 5.48 mmol) is stirred for 2 h at 50° C. The solids are filtered off,the mixture is concentrated in vacuo and the product purified by NPchromatography. Yield: 76 g (92%). HPLC-MS: M+H=353/355; tR=1.79 min(Method_1).

Preparation of Compounds C C1)tert-butyl-N-[1-[[5-bromo-6-[2-tri(propan-2-yl)silylethynyl]pyridin-2-yl]-amino]-1-oxopropan-2-yl]-N-methylcarbamate

N,N′-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide is added portionwise to a mixture of (46.4g, 225 mmol) 2-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]propanoicacid (72.9 g, 359 mmol) and DCM (200 ml) under stirring at 5° C. Thismixture is warmed to RT and stirring continued for 30 minutes before amixture of 5-bromo-6-[2-tri(propan-2-yl)silylethynyl]-pyridin-2-amine B1(53 g, 150 mmol) in DCM (200 ml) is added slowly. After stirring for 10days at RT the mixture is diluted with DCM and extracted with aqueoussaturated NaHCO₃. The combined organic layers are dried over MgSO₄ andconcentrated in vacuo.

The product is purified by NP chromatography. Yield: 71 g (87%).HPLC-MS: M+H=538/540; tR=1.98 min (Method_1).

In order to obtain (R)- or (S)-enantiomers of final examples(2R)-2-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]propanoic acid or(2S)-2-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]propanoic acidcan be employed. E.g. with(2S)-2-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]propanoic acidthe intermediate tert-butylN-[(1S)-1-[(5-bromo-6-{2-[tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin-2-yl)carbamoyl]-ethyl]-N-methylcarbamateis obtained (S)-C1:

Yield: 71 g (87%). HPLC-MS: M+H=538/540; tR=1.98 min (Method_1).

Accordingly, all subsequent intermediates described below in the racemicform can also be obtained as R- or S-enantiomers. E.g. D1, E1 and F1 areobtained as S-enantiomers starting from (S)-C1 and following thedescribed procedures.

Preparation of Compounds D D1)[6-[2-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]propanoylamino]-2-[2-tri(propan-2-yl)silylethynyl]pyridin-3-yl]boronicacid

A mixture oftert-butyl-N-[1-[[5-bromo-6-[2-tri(propan-2-yl)silylethynyl]pyridin-2-yl]-amino]-1-oxopropan-2-yl]-N-methylcarbamateC1 (53 g, 98 mmol), bis(neopentyl glycolato)diboron (44.5 g, 197 mmol),KOAc (29 g, 295 mmol),1,1′-Bis(diphenyl-phosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) (2.16 g,2.95 mmol) and dioxane (250 ml) is stirred under argon atmosphere for 7h at 55° C. The mixture is diluted with DCM and extracted with asaturated aqueous solution of NaHCO₃. The combined organic layers aredried over MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The product is purified byNP chromatography. Yield: 44 g (89%). HPLC-MS: M+H=504; tR=1.67 min(Method_1).

Preparation of Compounds E E1) tert-butylN-{1-[(5-{2-bromo-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl}-6-{2-[tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin-2-yl)carbamoyl]ethyl}-N-methylcarbamate

A mixture of[6-[2-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]propanoylamino]-2-[2-tri(propan-2-yl)silylethynyl]pyridin-3-yl]boronicacid D1 (14.7 g, 29.2 mmol),2-bromo-3-iodo-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine S2 (11.8 g, 35.1 mmol),Na₂CO₃ (9.3 g, 87.7 mmol), dioxane (150 ml), water (30 ml) and1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]-dichloropalladium(II) (2.14 g,2.92 mmol) is stirred under argon atmosphere for 4 h at 110° C. At RTwater (100 ml) is added and the mixture extracted with EtOAc. Thecombined organic layers are dried over MgSO₄, concentrated in vacuo andthe product purified by RP HPLC. Yield: 6.9 g (36%). HPLC-MS: M+H=668;tR=1.82 min (Method_1).

Preparation of Compounds F F1) tert-butylN-[1-({5-[2-(2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-{2-[tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin-2-yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]-N-methylcarbamate

A mixture of tert-butylN-[1-({5-[2-(2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl}-6-{2-[tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin-2-yl)carbamoyl]ethyl}-N-methylcarbamateE1 (1.0 g, 1.50 mmol), (2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)boronic acid (1.0 g, 6.54mmol), Na₂CO₃ (475 mg, 4.48 mmol), dioxane (10 ml), water (2 ml) and1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) (218 mg, 298μmol) is stirred under argon atmosphere for 3 h at 100° C. At RT water(50 ml) is added and the mixture extracted with EtOAc. The combinedorganic layers are dried over MgSO₄, concentrated in vacuo and theproduct purified by RP HPLC. Yield: 990 mg (95%). HPLC-MS: M+H=697;tR=2.02 min (Method_4).

The following intermediates are prepared analogously from E1 utilizingcorresponding boronic acids (for F2+F5−F9) or boronic acid pinacolesters (for F3−F4):

t_(ret) # Structure Chemical Name [min] [M + H] A.M. F2

tert-butyl N-methyl-N-[1-({5- [7-methyl-2-(2-methyl-pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-{2-[tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]- ethynyl}pyridin-2-yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]carbamate 1.23 681 M_2 F3

tert-butyl N-methyl-N-[1-({5- [7-methyl-2-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-{2- [tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]carbamate 1.19 670 M_2 F4

tert-butyl N-methyl-N-[1-({5- [7-methyl-2-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-{2- [tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]carbamate 1.19 670 M_2 F5

tert-butyl N-methyl-N-[1-({5- [7-methyl-2-(2- methylpyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3- yl]-6-{2-[tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]carbamate 1.23 681 M_2 F6

tert-butyl N-methyl-N-[1-({5- [7-methyl-2-(6- methylpyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3- yl]-6-{2-[tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]carbamate 1.75 681 M_1 F7

tert-butyl N-methyl-N-[1-({5- [7-methyl-2-(2- methylpyrimidin-5-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3- yl]-6-{2-[tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]carbamate 1.22 682 M_2 F8

tert-butyl N-[1-({5-[2-(2- methoxypyridin-4-yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin- 3-yl]-6-{2-[tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]-N- methylcarbamate 2.43697 M_4 F9

tert-butyl N-[1-({5-[2-(6- methoxypyridin-3-yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin- 3-yl]-6-{2-[tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]-N- methylcarbamate 1.27697 M_2

F10) tert-butylN-[1-({5-[7-chloro-2-(2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-{2-[tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin-2-yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]-N-methylcarbamate

A mixture of[6-[2-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]aminolpropanoylamino]-2-[2-tri(propan-2-yl)silylethynyl]pyridin-3-yl]boronicacid D1 (895 mg, 1.78 mmol),3-{7-chloro-3-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl}-2-methoxypyridine S4a (685mg, 1.78 mmol), Na₂CO₃ (565 mg, 5.33 mmol), dioxane (8 ml), water (1.5ml) and 1,1′-bis(diphenyl-phosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) (130mg, 0.18 mmol) is stirred under argon atmosphere for 3 h at 100° C. AtRT water (100 ml) is added and the mixture extracted with EtOAc. Thecombined organic layers are dried over MgSO₄, concentrated in vacuo andthe product purified by RP HPLC. Yield: 480 mg (38%). HPLC-MS: M+H=717;tR=1.30 min (Method_2).

The following intermediate is prepared analogously utilizing S4b:

t_(ret) # Structure Chemical Name [min] [M + H] A.M. F11

tert-butyl N-[1-({5-[2-(2- methoxypyridin-3-yl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3- yl]-6-{2-[tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin- 2-yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]- N-methylcarbamate 1.25683 M_2

Preparation of Compounds G and H G1) tert-butylN-[1-({6-ethynyl-5-[2-(2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]-N-methylcarbamate

A mixture of tert-butylN-[1-({5-[2-(2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-{2-[tris(propan-2-yl)silyl]ethynyl}pyridin-2-yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]-N-methylcarbamateF1 (1.1 g, 1.59 mmol), THF (20 ml) and tetrabutylammonium fluoride (1mol/l solution in THF, 1.8 ml, 1.8 mmol) is stirred at RT for 1 h. Themixture is diluted with EtOAc and extracted with a saturated aqueoussolution of sodium hydrogencarbonate and brine. The combined organiclayers are dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to give crude G1which is used in the next step without further purification.

H1) tert-butylN-[1-({5-[2-(2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1-methylisoquinolin-6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]-N-methylcarbamate

Dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) (114 mg, 162 μmol) is addedto a mixture of tert-butylN-[1-({6-ethynyl-5-[2-(2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]-N-methylcarbamateG1 (439 mg, 812 μmol), 6-iodo-1-methylisoquinoline S5 (437 mg, 1.62mmol), copper(I) iodide (15 mg, 79 μmol), triethylamine (350 μl, 2 mmol)and NMP (2 ml) under argon atmosphere at RT and is stirred at 50° C. for17 h. The mixture is concentrated in vacuo and the product purified byRP HPLC. Yield: 223 mg (40%). HPLC-MS: M+H=682; tR=1.00 min (METHOD_2).

The following intermediates are prepared analogously utilizing6-iodo-1-methylisoquinoline S5,6-iodo-1-methyl-1,2-dihydroquinolin-2-one or iodobenzene:

t_(ret) # Structure Chemical Name [min] [M + H] A.M. H2 

tert-butyl N-methyl-N- [1-({5-[7-methyl-2-(2- methylpyridin-4-yl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin- 3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)- ethyl]carbamate 0.98 666 M_2 H3 

tert-butyl N-methyl-N- [1-({5-[7-methyl-2-(1- methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]- pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)- ethyl]carbamate 0.95 655 M_2 H4 

tert-butyl N-methyl-N- [1-({5-[7-methyl-2-(1- methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]- pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)- ethyl]carbamate 0.93 655 M_2 H5 

tert-butyl N-methyl-N- [1-({5-[7-methyl-2-(2- methylpyridin-3-yl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin- 3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)- ethyl]carbamate 0.96 666 M_2 H6 

tert-butyl N-methyl-N- [1-({5-[7-methyl-2-(6- methylpyridin-3-yl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin- 3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)- ethyl]carbamate 0.99 666 M_2 H7 

tert-butyl N-methyl-N- [1-({5-[7-methyl-2-(2- methylpyrimidin-5-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]- pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)- ethyl]carbamate 0.96 667 M_2 H8 

tert-butyl N-[1-({5-[2- (2-methoxypyridin-4- yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]- pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]- N-methylcarbamate 1.02 682M_2 H9 

tert-butyl N-[1-({5-[2- (6-methoxypyridin-3- yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]- pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]- N-methylcarbamate 1.03 682M_2 H10

tert-butyl N-[1-({5-[2- (2-methoxypyridin-3- yl)-7-methyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin- 3-yl]-6-[2-(1-methyl- 2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)- ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- carbamoyl)ethyl]-N-methylcarbamate 0.96 698 M_2 H11

tert-butyl N-methyl-N- [1-({5-[7-methyl-2-(2- methylpyridin-4-yl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin- 3-yl]-6-(2-phenyl- ethynyl)pyridin-2-yl}-carbamoyl)- ethyl]carbamate 1.02 601 M_2 H12

tert-butyl N-methyl-N- [1-({5-[7-methyl-2-(2- methylpyrimidin-5-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]- pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)- ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- carbamoyl)-ethyl]carbamate 0.92 683 M_2 H13

tert-butyl N-[1-({5-[2- (2-methoxypyridin-4- yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]- pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)- ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- carbamoyl)ethyl]-N-methylcarbamate 0.98 698 M_2 H14

tert-butyl N-[1-({5-[2- (6-methoxypyridin-3- yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]- pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)- ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- carbamoyl)ethyl]-N-methylcarbamate 0.99 698 M_2 H15

tert-butyl N-[1-({5-[7- chloro-2-(2-methoxy- pyridin-3-yl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin- 3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2- yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]- N-methylcarbamate 1.04 702M_2 H16

tert-butyl N-[1-({5-[2- (2-methoxypyridin-3- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6- yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]- N-methylcarbamate 0.98 668 M_2

PREPARATION OF EXAMPLES (I) Example 1N-{5-[2-(2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1-methylisoquinolin-6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)propanamide

A mixture of tert-butylN-[1-({5-[2-(2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1-methylisoquinolin-6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}carbamoyl)ethyl]-N-methylcarbamateH1 (223 mg, 327 μmol), DCM (10 ml) and TFA (2 ml) is stirred for 1 h atRT. Toluene (50 ml) is added and the mixture concentrated in vacuo. Theproduct is purified by RP HPLC. Yield: 88 mg (46%). HPLC-MS: M+H=582;tR=1.17 min (METHOD_1).

The following examples are prepared analogously from H2-H16:

t_(ret) # Structure Chemical Name [min] [M + H] A.M.  2

N-{5-[7-methyl-2-(2- methylpyridin-4-yl)- imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1-methyl- isoquinolin-6-yl)- ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.13 566 M_1  3

N-{5-[7-methyl-2-(1- methyl-1H-pyrazol-4- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6- yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.10 555 M_1  4

N-{5-[7-methyl-2-(1- methyl-1H-imidazol- 5-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6- yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.09 555 M_1  5

N-{5-[7-methyl-2-(2- methylpyridin-3-yl)- imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1-methyl- isoquinolin-6-yl)- ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.12 566 M_1  6

N-{5-[7-methyl-2-(6- methylpyridin-3-yl)- imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1-methyl- isoquinolin-6-yl)- ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.14 566 M_1  7

N-{5-[7-methyl-2-(2- methylpyrimidin-5- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6- yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.12 567 M_1  8

N-{5-[2-(2- methoxypyridin-4-yl)- 7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2- (1-methylisoquinolin- 6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methyl- amino)propanamide 1.21 582 M_1  9

N-{5-[2-(6- methoxypyridin-3-yl)- 7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2- (1-methylisoquinolin- 6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methyl- amino)propanamide 1.23 582 M_1 10

N-{5-[2-(2-methoxy- pyridin-3-yl)-7- methylimidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methyl-2-oxo-1,2- dihydroquinolin-6-yl)-ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- 2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.10 598 M_1 11

N-{5-[7-methyl-2-(2- methylpyridin-4-yl)- imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-(2-phenyl- ethynyl)pyridin-2-yl}- 2-(methylamino)- propanamide1.19 501 M_1 12

N-{5-[7-methyl-2-(2- methylpyrimidin-5- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methyl-2-oxo-1,2- dihydroquinolin-6-yl)-ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- 2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.04 583 M_1 13

N-{5-[2-(2-methoxy- pyridin-4-yl)-7- methylimidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methyl-2-oxo-1,2- dihydroquinolin-6-yl)-ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- 2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.13 598 M_1 14

N-{5-[2-(6-methoxy- pyridin-3-yl)-7- methylimidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methyl-2-oxo-1,2- dihydroquinolin-6-yl)-ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- 2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.15 598 M_1 15

N-{5-[7-chloro-2-(2- methoxypyridin-3-yl)- imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1-methyl- isoquinolin-6-yl)- ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.22 602 M_1 16

N-{5-[2-(2-methoxy- pyridin-3-yl)imidazo- [1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1-methyliso- quinolin-6-yl)ethynyl]- pyridin-2-yl}-2- (methylamino)-propanamide 1.11 508 M_1

The (S)-enantiomers of examples are obtained by employing (S)-C1 insteadof C1 in the synthetic route:

t_(ret) # Structure Chemical Name [min] [M + H] A.M. (S)-1 

(2S)-N-{5-[2-(2- methoxypyridin-3-yl)- 7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2- (1-methylisoquinolin- 6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methyl- amino)propanamide 1.17 582 M_1 (S)-2 

(2S)-N-{5-[7-methyl- 2-(2-methylpyridin-4- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6- yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.13 566 M_1 (S)-3 

(2S)-N-{5-[7-methyl- 2-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-4-yl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin- 3-yl]-6-[2-(1-methyl- isoquinolin-6-yl)-ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- 2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.10 555 M_1 (S)-4 

(2S)-N-{5-[7-methyl- 2-(1-methyl-1H- imidazol-5-yl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin- 3-yl]-6-[2-(1-methyl- isoquinolin-6-yl)-ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- 2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.09 555 M_1 (S)-5 

(2S)-N-{5-[7-methyl- 2-(2-methylpyridin-3- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6- yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.12 566 M_1 (S)-6 

(2S)-N-{5-[7-methyl- 2-(6-methylpyridin-3- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6- yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.14 566 M_1 (S)-7 

(2S)-N-{5-[7-methyl- 2-(2-methylpyrimidin- 5-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6- yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.12 567 M_1 (S)-8 

(2S)-N-{5-[2-(2- methoxypyridin-4-yl)- 7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2- (1-methylisoquinolin- 6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methyl- amino)propanamide 1.21 582 M_1 (S)-9 

(2S)-N-{5-[2-(6- methoxypyridin-3-yl)- 7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2- (1-methylisoquinolin- 6-yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methyl- amino)propanamide 1.23 582 M_1 (S)-10

(2S)-N-{5-[2-(2- methoxypyridin-3-yl)- 7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2- (1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2- dihydroquinolin-6-yl)-ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- 2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.10 598 M_1 (S)-11

(2S)-N-{5-[7-methyl- 2-(2-methylpyridin-4- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-(2- phenylethynyl)pyridin- 2-yl}-2-(methyl-amino)propanamide 1.19 501 M_1 (S)-12

(2S)-N-{5-[7-methyl- 2-(2-methylpyrimidin- 5-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methyl-2-oxo-1,2- dihydroquinolin-6-yl)-ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- 2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.04 583 M_1 (S)-13

(2S)-N-{5-[2-(2- methoxypyridin-4-yl)- 7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2- (1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2- dihydroquinolin-6-yl)-ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- 2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.13 598 M_1 (S)-14

(2S)-N-{5-[2-(6- methoxypyridin-3-yl)- 7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2- (1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2- dihydroquinolin-6-yl)-ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}- 2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.15 598 M_1 (S)-15

(2S)-N-{5-[7-chloro-2- (2-methoxypyridin-3- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6- yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.22 602 M_1 (S)-16

(2S)-N-{5-[2-(2- methoxypyridin-3- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-3-yl]-6-[2-(1- methylisoquinolin-6- yl)ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl}-2-(methylamino)- propanamide 1.11 508 M_1

Preparation of Building Blocks S S1)2-bromo-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

K₂CO₃ (15.7 g, 114 mmol) is added portionwise to 2-chloroacetic acid(19.6 g, 207 mmol) in water (100 ml) at RT and the mixture stirred for15 min 4-Methylpyridin-2-amine (22.5 g, 208 mmol) is added, the mixtureheated to reflux for 16 h and cooled to RT. The mixture is concentratedin vacuo to less than half its volume and cold ethanol (200 ml) isadded. The precipitate is collected, washed with cold ethanol, dried invacuo and used directly in the next step.

The crude intermediate and POBr₃ (90 g, 341 mmol) are heated to 100° C.for 16 h. The mixture is cooled to RT and slowly added to a cooledstirred mixture of DCM (500 ml) and aqueous NaOH (1 mol/l, 1000 ml).After stirring for 1 h at RT the organic phase is collected and theaqueous layer extracted with DCM. The combined organic layers are driedover MgSO₄, concentrated in vacuo and the product purified by NPchromatography. Yield: 8.6 g (20%). HPLC-MS: tR=0.79 min (Method_1).

S2) 2-bromo-3-iodo-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

A mixture of 2-bromo-7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine S1 (8.6 g, 40.8mmol), N-iodosuccinimide (9.2 g, 40.8 mmol) and ACN (500 ml) is stirredat RT for 3 h. The precipitate is collected, washed with ACN and driedin vacuo. Yield: 11.8 g (86%). HPLC-MS: tR=1.09 min (Method_1)

S3a) 2-chloro-3-{7-chloroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl}pyridine

Tetra-N-butylammonium tribromide (3.18 g, 6.60 mmol) is added to1-(2-chloropyridin-3-yl)ethan-1-one (1 g, 6.43 mmol) in THF (15 ml) atRT and the mixture stirred for 2 h. 4-Chloropyridin-2-amine (0.83 g,6.43 mmol), NaHCO₃ (0.56 g, 6.67 mmol) and ethanol (10 ml) is added andthe mixture stirred at 50° C. for 16 h. At RT water is added and themixture extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers are dried overMgSO₄, concentrated in vacuo and the product purified by RP HPLC. Yield:0.88 g (52%). HPLC-MS: tR=0.80 min (Method_2).

The following intermediates are prepared analogously:

t_(ret) # Structure Chemical Name [min] [M + H] A.M. S3b

2-chloro-3-{imidazo[1,2-a]- pyridin-2-yl}pyridine 0.84 230 M_1 S3c

2-chloro-3-{7-methyl- imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl}- pyridine 0.79 244 M_2

S4a) 3-{7-chloro-3-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl}-2-methoxypyridine

A mixture of 2-chloro-3-{7-chloroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl}pyridine S3a(0.86 g, 3.26 mmol), sodium methoxide (5.4 mol/l in MeOH, 4 ml, 21.6mmol) and methanol (6 ml) is stirred at 60° C. for 2 days then at 80° C.for 2 days. At RT water is added and the mixture extracted with EtOAc.The combined organic layers are dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated invacuo. The crude intermediate desiodo-S4a(3-{7-chloroimidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-2-yl}-2-methoxypyridine, HPLC-MS:M+H=260; tR=1.05 min (Method_1) is used directly without furtherpurification).

N-iodosuccinimide (0.73 g, 3.26 mmol) and ACN (15 ml) are added to thecrude material and the mixture is stirred for 2 h at RT. The precipitateis collected, washed with ACN and dried in vacuo. The filtrate isconcentrated in vacuo, EtOAc is added and the mixture washed with anaqueous solution containing 10% sodium thiosulfate. The combined organiclayers are dried over MgSO₄, concentrated in vacuo and pooled with theprecipitate to give the title compound which is used in the next stepwithout further purification. Yield: 0.69 g (55%). HPLC-MS: M+H=386;tR=1.13 min (Method_1)

The following intermediates are prepared analogously from S3b and S3c:

t_(ret) # Structure Chemical Name [min] [M + H] A.M. Desiodo-S4b

3-{imidazo[1,2-a]- pyridin-2-yl}-2- methoxypyridine 0.90 226 M_1 S4b

3-{3- iodoimidazo[1,2-a]- pyridin-2-yl}-2- methoxypyridine 1.00 352 M_1Desiodo-S4c

2-methoxy-3-{7- methylimidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-2- yl}pyridine 0.81 240 M_2S4c

3-{3-iodo-7- methylimidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-2-yl}-2- methoxypyridine 0.87366 M_2

S5) 6-iodo-1-methylisoquinoline

A mixture of 1-methylisoquinolin-6-amine (27 g, 171 mmol) in2-methylpropan-2-ol (1.5 l) and hydrochloric acid (2 mol/l, 1.5 l) iscooled to 0° C. Sodium nitrite (12 g, 177 mmol) is added and stirringcontinued for 30 minutes. The mixture is warmed to RT and stirred for 5minutes before it is cooled to 0° C. again. Sodium iodide (45 g, 302mmol) is added and the mixture stirred at RT for 30 min. The mixture isdiluted with water and extracted with EtOAc. The aqueous phase is madebasic with sodium hydroxide and extracted with EtOAc. The combinedorganic layers are dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. Theproduct is purified by RP HPLC. Yield: 5.2 g (11%). HPLC-MS: M+H=270;tR=1.70 mM (METHOD_3).

Assays and Data

XIAP BIR3 and cIAP1 BIR3 Binding Assays (DELFIA)

BIR3 domains of human XIAP (covering amino acids 241 to 356; XIAP BIR3)and cIAP1 (covering amino acids 256 to 363; cIAP1 BIR3) were expressedand purified from E coli as GST-fusion proteins. PeptideAVPIAQKSE-Lys(Biotin), representing the N-terminus of mature human SMAC(SMAC peptide), was used as interaction partner in the protein-peptideinteraction assay.

BIR3 domains (10 nM) were incubated with SMAC peptide (10 nM) in assaybuffer (50 mM Tris, 120 mM NaCl, 0.1% BSA, 1 mM DTT, 0.05% TritonX100)for one hour at room temperature in the presence of inhibitorycompounds. The assay mixture was transferred to a streptavidin coatedplate and incubated for one hour at room temperature to allow binding ofthe biotinylated peptide and associated BIR3 domains to the plate. Afterseveral washing steps Eu labeled anti-GST antibody (e.g. Perkin ElmerDELFIA Eu-N1-antiGST AD0250) was added to detect BIR3 domain-SMACpeptide interactions according to Perkin Elmer's instructions. Briefly,the antibody was added (dilution 1:5000 in Perkin Elmer DELFIA AssayBuffer 2013-01) and incubated for one hour. After 3 washing steps usingDelfia Washing Buffer (Perkin Elmer DELFIA Wash 2013-05), EnhancementSolution (Perkin Elmer Enhancement Asolution 2013-02) was added andincubation continued for 10 minutes. Time resolved Europium fluorescencewas measured in a Wallac Victor using Standard assay settings.

IC₅₀ values for inhibitory compounds were calculated from assay resultsobtained by incubating BIR3 domains with SMAC peptide in the presence ofserially diluted compounds (e.g. 1:5). DELFIA assay results were plottedagainst compound concentrations and Software GraphPad Prizm was used tocalculate half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀ values).

The IC₅₀ values representing the biological activity of the examples arelisted in the table below. All IC₅₀ values are reported in nM andrepresent the activity of the (S)-isomers:

# cIAP1 BIR-3 XIAP BIR-3 (S)-1 1 207 (S)-2 1 N/A (S)-3 1 252 (S)-4 1 303(S)-5 2 677 (S)-6 1 108 (S)-7 1 124 (S)-8 1 147 (S)-9 1 267 (S)-10 1 260(S)-11 1 13 (S)-12 2 333 (S)-13 1 219 (S)-14 1 1269 (S)-15 2 175 (S)-162 304

Cytochrome P450 Isoenzyme Inhibition Assays

The inhibition of the conversion of a specific substrate to itsmetabolite is assayed at 37° C. with human liver microsomes and used todetermine the inhibition of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes. For thefollowing cytochrome P450 isoenzymes these substrates and metabolicreactions are monitored: P450 2C9: hydroxylation of Diclofenac; P4503A4: hydroxylation of Midazolam; P450 2D6: demethylation ofDextromethorphan; P450 2C19: hydroxylation of Mephenytoin; P450 2C8:demethylation of Amodiaquine.

The final incubation volume contains TRIS buffer (0.1 M), MgCl₂ (5 mM),a certain concentration of human liver microsomes dependent on the P450isoenzyme measured (P450 2C9, P450 3A4: 0.1 mg/ml; P450 2D6: 0.2 mg/ml;P450 2C19: 0.5 mg/ml; P450 2C8: 0.05 mg/ml) and a certain concentrationof the individual substrate for each isoenzyme (P450 2C9: Diclofenac 10μM; P450 3A4: Midazolam 5 μM; P450 2D6: Dextromethorphan 5 μM; P4502C19: S-Mephenytoin 70 μM; P450 2C8: Amodiaquine 1 μM).

The effect of the test compound is determined at five differentconcentrations in duplicate (e.g. highest concentration 10-50 μM withsubsequent serial 1:4 dilutions) or without test compound (highcontrol). Following a short preincubation period, reactions are startedwith the cofactor (NADPH, 1 mM) and stopped by cooling the incubationdown to 8° C. and subsequently by addition of one volume ofacetonitrile. An internal standard solution—usually the stable isotopeof the formed metabolite—is added after quenching of incubations. Peakarea analyte (=metabolite formed) and internal standard is determined byLC-MS/MS. The resulting peak area ratio analyte to internal standard inthese incubations is compared to a control activity containing no testcompound. Within each of the assay runs, the IC50 of a positive controlinhibitor dependent on the P450 isoenzyme measured (P450 2C9:sulfaphenazole; P450 3A4: ketoconazole; P450 2D6: quinidine; P450 2C19:tranylcypromine; P450 2C8: Montelukast) is determined. The assay resultsare plotted against compound concentrations to calculated IC₅₀ values(half maximal inhibitory concentrations) for inhibitory compoundsutilizing Software GraphPad Prizm.

The IC₅₀ values representing the inhibitory activity of the examples onthe individual cytochrome P450 isoenzymes are listed in the table below.All IC₅₀ values are reported in μM and represent the inhibitory activityof the (S)-isomers:

# P450 2C19 P450 2C8 P450 2C9 P450 2D6 P450 3A4 (S)-1 >50 11 38 35 >50(S)-2 1.9 0.9 >50 >50 >50 (S)-3 >50 14 >50 >50 >50 (S)-4 36 9.8 276.4 >50 (S)-5 >50 1.3 >50 >50 >50 (S)-6 >50 25 >50 >50 >50(S)-7 >50 >50 >50 >50 >50 (S)-8 38 1.6 >50 >50 >50 (S)-9 >5015 >50 >50 >50 (S)-10 >50 9.3 45 >50 >50 (S)-11 14 15 >50 32 46(S)-12 >50 >50 >50 >50 >50 (S)-13 12 4.5 >50 >50 >50(S)-14 >50 >50 >50 >50 >50 (S)-15 32 2.2 19 16 >50 (S)-16 >50 3.4 21 29>50

Solubility Measurement (DMSO Solution Precipitation Method)

A 10 mM DMSO stock solution of a compound is used to determine itsaqueous solubility. The DMSO solution is diluted with an aqueous medium(McIlvaine buffer with pH=6.8) to a final concentration of 250 μM. After24 h of shaking at ambient temperature a potentially formed precipitateis removed by filtration. The concentration of the filtrate isdetermined by LC-UV methods by comparing the signal to the signal of areference solution with known concentration.

The solubility of the examples at pH 6.8 is listed in the table below.All values are reported in μg/ml representing the (S)-isomers:

# Sol [μg/ml] pH 6.8 (S)-1 35 (S)-2 8 (S)-3 1 (S)-4 39 (S)-5 <1 (S)-6 1(S)-7 <1 (S)-8 <1 (S)-9 2 (S)-10 35 (S)-11 N/A (S)-12 <1 (S)-13 <1(S)-14 <1 (S)-15 20 (S)-16 17

On the basis of their biological properties the compounds of generalformula (1) according to the invention, their tautomers, racemates,enantiomers, diastereomers, mixtures thereof and the salts of all theabove-mentioned forms are suitable for treating diseases characterisedby excessive or abnormal cell proliferation.

For example, the following cancers may be treated with compoundsaccording to the invention, without being restricted thereto: braintumours such as for example acoustic neurinoma, astrocytomas such aspilocytic astrocytomas, fibrillary astrocytoma, protoplasmicastrocytoma, gemistocytary astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma andglioblastoma, brain lymphomas, brain metastases, hypophyseal tumour suchas prolactinoma, HGH (human growth hormone) producing tumour and ACTHproducing tumour (adrenocorticotropic hormone), craniopharyngiomas,medulloblastomas, meningeomas and oligodendrogliomas; nerve tumours(neoplasms) such as for example tumours of the vegetative nervous systemsuch as neuroblastoma sympathicum, ganglioneuroma, paraganglioma(pheochromocytoma, chromaffinoma) and glomus-caroticum tumour, tumourson the peripheral nervous system such as amputation neuroma,neurofibroma, neurinoma (neurilemmoma, Schwannoma) and malignantSchwannoma, as well as tumours of the central nervous system such asbrain and bone marrow tumours; intestinal cancer such as for examplecarcinoma of the rectum, colon carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, analcarcinoma, carcinoma of the large bowel, tumours of the small intestineand duodenum; eyelid tumours such as basalioma or basal cell carcinoma;pancreatic cancer or carcinoma of the pancreas; bladder cancer orcarcinoma of the bladder; lung cancer (bronchial carcinoma) such as forexample small-cell bronchial carcinomas (oat cell carcinomas) andnon-small cell bronchial carcinomas (NSCLC) such as plate epithelialcarcinomas, adenocarcinomas and large-cell bronchial carcinomas; breastcancer such as for example mammary carcinoma such as infiltrating ductalcarcinoma, colloid carcinoma, lobular invasive carcinoma, tubularcarcinoma, adenocystic carcinoma and papillary carcinoma; non-Hodgkin'slymphomas (NHL) such as for example Burkitt's lymphoma, low-malignancynon-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) and mucosis fungoides; uterine cancer orendometrial carcinoma or corpus carcinoma; CUP syndrome (Cancer ofUnknown Primary); ovarian cancer or ovarian carcinoma such as mucinous,endometrial or serous cancer; gall bladder cancer; bile duct cancer suchas for example Klatskin tumour; testicular cancer such as for exampleseminomas and non-seminomas; lymphoma (lymphosarcoma) such as forexample malignant lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas(NHL) such as chronic lymphatic leukaemia, leukaemicreticuloendotheliosis, immunocytoma, plasmocytoma (multiple myeloma),immunoblastoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, T-zone mycosis fungoides, large-cellanaplastic lymphoblastoma and lymphoblastoma; laryngeal cancer such asfor example tumours of the vocal cords, supraglottal, glottal andsubglottal laryngeal tumours; bone cancer such as for exampleosteochondroma, chondroma, chondroblastoma, chondromyxoid fibroma,osteoma, osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, eosinophilic granuloma, giantcell tumour, chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma,reticulo-sarcoma, plasmocytoma, fibrous dysplasia, juvenile bone cystsand aneurysmatic bone cysts; head and neck tumours such as for exampletumours of the lips, tongue, floor of the mouth, oral cavity, gums,palate, salivary glands, throat, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, larynxand middle ear; liver cancer such as for example liver cell carcinoma orhepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); leukaemias, such as for example acuteleukaemias such as acute lymphatic/lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), acutemyeloid leukaemia (AML); chronic leukaemias such as chronic lymphaticleukaemia (CLL), chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML); stomach cancer orgastric carcinoma such as for example papillary, tubular and mucinousadenocarcinoma, signet ring cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma,small-cell carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma; melanomas such asfor example superficially spreading, nodular, lentigo-maligna andacral-lentiginous melanoma; renal cancer such as for example kidney cellcarcinoma or hypernephroma or Grawitz's tumour; oesophageal cancer orcarcinoma of the oesophagus; penile cancer; prostate cancer; throatcancer or carcinomas of the pharynx such as for example nasopharynxcarcinomas, oropharynx carcinomas and hypopharynx carcinomas;retinoblastoma such as for example vaginal cancer or vaginal carcinoma;plate epithelial carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, in situ carcinomas,malignant melanomas and sarcomas; thyroid carcinomas such as for examplepapillary, follicular and medullary thyroid carcinoma, as well asanaplastic carcinomas; spinalioma, epidormoid carcinoma and plateepithelial carcinoma of the skin; thymomas, cancer of the urethra andcancer of the vulva.

Preferred cancers, which may be treated with compounds according to theinvention, are lung, liver, colon, brain, breast, ovary, prostatecancer, pancreas, kidney, stomach, head, neck and urothelial cancer, aswell as lymphoma and leukemia.

The new compounds may be used for the prevention, short-term orlong-term treatment of the above-mentioned diseases, optionally also incombination with radiotherapy or other “state-of-the-art” compounds,such as e.g. cytostatic or cytotoxic substances, cell proliferationinhibitors, anti-angiogenic substances, steroids or antibodies.

The compounds of general formula (1) may be used on their own or incombination with other active substances according to the invention,optionally also in combination with other pharmacologically activesubstances.

Chemotherapeutic agents which may be administered in combination withthe compounds according to the invention, include, without beingrestricted thereto, hormones, hormone analogues and antihormones (e.g.tamoxifen, toremifene, raloxifene, fulvestrant, megestrol acetate,flutamide, nilutamide, bicalutamide, aminoglutethimide, cyproteroneacetate, finasteride, buserelin acetate, fludrocortisone,fluoxymesterone, medroxyprogesterone, octreotide), aromatase inhibitors(e.g. anastrozole, letrozole, liarozole, vorozole, exemestane,atamestane), LHRH agonists and antagonists (e.g. goserelin acetate,luprolide), inhibitors of growth factors (growth factors such as forexample “platelet derived growth factor” and “hepatocyte growth factor”,inhibitors are for example “growth factor” antibodies, “growth factorreceptor” antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as for examplecetuximab, gefitinib, imatinib, lapatinib and trastuzumab);antimetabolites (e.g. antifolates such as methotrexate, raltitrexed,pyrimidine analogues such as 5-fluorouracil, capecitabin and gemcitabin,purine and adenosine analogues such as mercaptopurine, thioguanine,cladribine and pentostatin, cytarabine, fludarabine); antitumourantibiotics (e.g. anthracyclins such as doxorubicin, daunorubicin,epirubicin and idarubicin, mitomycin-C, bleomycin, dactinomycin,plicamycin, streptozocin); platinum derivatives (e.g. cisplatin,oxaliplatin, carboplatin); alkylation agents (e.g. estramustin,meclorethamine, melphalan, chlorambucil, busulphan, dacarbazin,cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, temozolomide, nitrosoureas such as forexample carmustin and lomustin, thiotepa); antimitotic agents (e.g.Vinca alkaloids such as for example vinblastine, vindesin, vinorelbinand vincristine; and taxanes such as paclitaxel, docetaxel);topoisomerase inhibitors (e.g. epipodophyllotoxins such as for exampleetoposide and etopophos, teniposide, amsacrin, topotecan, irinotecan,mitoxantron) and various chemotherapeutic agents such as amifostin,anagrelid, clodronat, filgrastin, interferon alpha, leucovorin,rituximab, procarbazine, levamisole, mesna, mitotane, pamidronate andporfimer.

Other possible combination partners are 2-chlorodesoxyadenosine,2-fluorodesoxycytidine, 2-methoxyoestradiol, 2C4, 3-alethine,131-I-TM-601, 3CPA, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin, 16-aza-epothilone B,A 105972, A 204197, aldesleukin, alitretinoin, altretamine, alvocidib,amonafide, anthrapyrazole, AG-2037, AP-5280, apaziquone, apomine,aranose, arglabin, arzoxifene, atamestane, atrasentan, auristatin PE,AVLB, AZ10992, ABX-EGF, ARRY-300, ARRY-142886/AZD-6244,ARRY-704/AZD-8330, AS-703026, azacytidine, azaepothilone B, azonafide,BAY-43-9006, BBR-3464, BBR-3576, bevacizumab, biricodar dicitrate,BCX-1777, bleocin, BLP-25, BMS-184476, BMS-247550, BMS-188797,BMS-275291, BNP-1350, BNP-7787, BIBW 2992, BIBF 1120, bleomycinic acid,bleomycin A, bleomycin B, bryostatin-1, bortezomib, brostallicin,busulphan, CA-4 prodrug, CA-4, CapCell, calcitriol, canertinib,canfosfamide, capecitabine, carboxyphthalatoplatin, CCI-779, CEP-701,CEP-751, CBT-1 cefixime, ceflatonin, ceftriaxone, celecoxib,celmoleukin, cemadotin, CH4987655/RO-4987655, chlorotrianisene,cilengitide, ciclosporin, CDA-II, CDC-394, CKD-602, clofarabin,colchicin, combretastatin A4, CHS-828, CLL-Thera, CMT-3 cryptophycin 52,CTP-37, CP-461, CV-247, cyanomorpholinodoxorubicin, cytarabine, D 24851,decitabine, deoxorubicin, deoxyrubicin, deoxycoformycin, depsipeptide,desoxyepothilone B, dexamethasone, dexrazoxanet, diethylstilbestrol,diflomotecan, didox, DMDC, dolastatin 10, doranidazole, E7010, E-6201,edatrexat, edotreotide, efaproxiral, eflornithine, EKB-569, EKB-509,elsamitrucin, epothilone B, epratuzumab, ER-86526, erlotinib,ET-18-OCH3, ethynylcytidine, ethynyloestradiol, exatecan, exatecanmesylate, exemestane, exisulind, fenretinide, floxuridine, folic acid,FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, formestane, galarubicin, gallium maltolate, gefinitib,gemtuzumab, gimatecan, glufosfamide, GCS-IOO, G17DT immunogen, GMK,GPX-100, GSK-5126766, GSK-1120212, GW2016, granisetron,hexamethylmelamine, histamine, homoharringtonine, hyaluronic acid,hydroxyurea, hydroxyprogesterone caproate, ibandronate, ibritumomab,idatrexate, idenestrol, IDN-5109, IMC-1C11, immunol, indisulam,interferon alpha-2a, interferon alfa-2b, interleukin-2, ionafarnib,iproplatin, irofulven, isohomohalichondrin-B, isoflavone, isotretinoin,ixabepilone, JRX-2, JSF-154, J-107088, conjugated oestrogens, kahalid F,ketoconazole, KW-2170, lobaplatin, leflunomide, lenograstim, leuprolide,leuporelin, lexidronam, LGD-1550, linezolid, lutetium texaphyrin,lometrexol, losoxantrone, LU 223651, lurtotecan, mafosfamide,marimastat, mechloroethamine, methyltestosteron, methylprednisolone,MEN-10755, MDX-H210, MDX-447, MGV, midostaurin, minodronic acid,mitomycin, mivobulin, MK-2206, MLN518, motexafin gadolinium, MS-209,MS-275, MX6, neridronate, neovastat, nimesulide, nitroglycerin,nolatrexed, norelin, N-acetylcysteine, 06-benzylguanine, omeprazole,oncophage, ormiplatin, ortataxel, oxantrazole, oestrogen, patupilone,pegfilgrastim, PCK-3145, pegfilgrastim, PBI-1402, PEG-paclitaxel,PEP-005, P-04, PKC412, P54, PI-88, pelitinib, pemetrexed, pentrix,perifosine, perillylalcohol, PG-TXL, PG2, PLX-4032/RO-5185426, PT-100,picoplatin, pivaloyloxymethylbutyrate, pixantrone, phenoxodiol O,PKI166, plevitrexed, plicamycin, polyprenic acid, porfiromycin,prednisone, prednisolone, quinamed, quinupristin, RAF-265, ramosetron,ranpirnase, RDEA-119/BAY 869766, rebeccamycin analogues, revimid,RG-7167, rhizoxin, rhu-MAb, risedronate, rituximab, rofecoxib,Ro-31-7453, RO-5126766, RPR 109881A, rubidazon, rubitecan,R-flurbiprofen, S-9788, sabarubicin, SAHA, sargramostim, satraplatin, SB408075, SU5416, SU6668, SDX-101, semustin, seocalcitol, SM-11355, SN-38,SN-4071, SR-27897, SR-31747, SRL-172, sorafenib, spiroplatin,squalamine, suberanilohydroxamic acid, sutent, T 900607, T 138067,TAS-103, tacedinaline, talaporfin, tariquitar, taxotere, taxoprexin,tazarotene, tegafur, temozolamide, tesmilifene, testosterone,testosterone propionate, tesmilifene, tetraplatin, tetrodotoxin,tezacitabine, thalidomide, theralux, therarubicin, thymectacin,tiazofurin, tipifarnib, tirapazamine, tocladesine, tomudex, toremofin,trabectedin, TransMID-107, transretinic acid, traszutumab, tretinoin,triacetyluridine, triapine, trimetrexate, TLK-286TXD 258, urocidin,valrubicin, vatalanib, vincristine, vinflunine, virulizin, WX-UK1,vectibix, xeloda, XELOX, XL-281, XL-518/R-7420, YM-511, YM-598, ZD-4190,ZD-6474, ZD-4054, ZD-0473, ZD-6126, ZD-9331, ZDI839, zoledronat andzosuquidar.

Suitable preparations include for example tablets, capsules,suppositories, solutions—particularly solutions for injection (s.c.,i.v., i.m.) and infusion—elixirs, emulsions or dispersible powders. Thecontent of the pharmaceutically active compound(s) should be in therange from 0.1 to 90 wt.-%, preferably 0.5 to 50 wt.-% of thecomposition as a whole, i.e. in amounts which are sufficient to achievethe dosage range specified below. The doses specified may, if necessary,be given several times a day.

Suitable tablets may be obtained, for example, by mixing the activesubstance(s) with known excipients, for example inert diluents such ascalcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or lactose, disintegrants such ascorn starch or alginic acid, binders such as starch or gelatine,lubricants such as magnesium stearate or talc and/or agents for delayingrelease, such as carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate phthalate,or polyvinyl acetate. The tablets may also comprise several layers.

Coated tablets may be prepared accordingly by coating cores producedanalogously to the tablets with substances normally used for tabletcoatings, for example collidone or shellac, gum arabic, talc, titaniumdioxide or sugar. To achieve delayed release or preventincompatibilities the core may also consist of a number of layers.Similarly the tablet coating may consist of a number of layers toachieve delayed release, possibly using the excipients mentioned abovefor the tablets.

Syrups or elixirs containing the active substances or combinationsthereof according to the invention may additionally contain a sweetenersuch as saccharine, cyclamate, glycerol or sugar and a flavour enhancer,e.g. a flavouring such as vanillin or orange extract. They may alsocontain suspension adjuvants or thickeners such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, wetting agents such as, for example, condensation products offatty alcohols with ethylene oxide, or preservatives such asp-hydroxybenzoates.

Solutions for injection and infusion are prepared in the usual way, e.g.with the addition of isotonic agents, preservatives such asp-hydroxybenzoates, or stabilisers such as alkali metal salts ofethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, optionally using emulsifiers and/ordispersants, whilst if water is used as the diluent, for example,organic solvents may optionally be used as solvating agents ordissolving aids, and transferred into injection vials or ampoules orinfusion bottles.

Capsules containing one or more active substances or combinations ofactive substances may for example be prepared by mixing the activesubstances with inert carriers such as lactose or sorbitol and packingthem into gelatine capsules.

Suitable suppositories may be made for example by mixing with carriersprovided for this purpose, such as neutral fats or polyethyleneglycol orthe derivatives thereof.

Excipients which may be used include, for example, water,pharmaceutically acceptable organic solvents such as paraffins (e.g.petroleum fractions), vegetable oils (e.g. groundnut or sesame oil),mono- or polyfunctional alcohols (e.g. ethanol or glycerol), carrierssuch as e.g. natural mineral powders (e.g. kaolins, clays, talc, chalk),synthetic mineral powders (e.g. highly dispersed silicic acid andsilicates), sugars (e.g. cane sugar, lactose and glucose) emulsifiers(e.g. lignin, spent sulphite liquors, methylcellulose, starch andpolyvinylpyrrolidone) and lubricants (e.g. magnesium stearate, talc,stearic acid and sodium lauryl sulphate).

The preparations are administered by the usual methods, preferably byoral or transdermal route, most preferably by oral route. For oraladministration the tablets may, of course contain, apart from theabovementioned carriers, additives such as sodium citrate, calciumcarbonate and dicalcium phosphate together with various additives suchas starch, preferably potato starch, gelatine and the like. Moreover,lubricants such as magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulphate and talcmay be used at the same time for the tabletting process. In the case ofaqueous suspensions the active substances may be combined with variousflavour enhancers or colourings in addition to the excipients mentionedabove.

For parenteral use, solutions of the active substances with suitableliquid carriers may be used.

However, it may sometimes be necessary to depart from the amountsspecified, depending on the body weight, the route of administration,the individual response to the drug, the nature of its formulation andthe time or interval over which the drug is administered. Thus, in somecases it may be sufficient to use less than the minimum dose givenabove, whereas in other cases the upper limit may have to be exceeded.When administering large amounts it may be advisable to divide them upinto a number of smaller doses spread over the day.

The formulation examples which follow illustrate the present inventionwithout restricting its scope:

Examples of Pharmaceutical Formulations

A) Tablets per tablet active substance according to formula (I) 100 mglactose 140 mg corn starch 240 mg polyvinylpyrrolidone  15 mg magnesiumstearate  5 mg 500 mg

The finely ground active substance, lactose and some of the corn starchare mixed together. The mixture is screened, then moistened with asolution of polyvinylpyrrolidone in water, kneaded, wet-granulated anddried. The granules, the remaining corn starch and the magnesiumstearate are screened and mixed together. The mixture is compressed toproduce tablets of suitable shape and size.

B) Tablets per tablet active substance according to formula (I) 80 mglactose 55 mg corn starch 190 mg  microcrystalline cellulose 35 mgpolyvinylpyrrolidone 15 mg sodium-carboxymethyl starch 23 mg magnesiumstearate  2 mg 400 mg 

The finely ground active substance, some of the corn starch, lactose,microcrystalline cellulose and polyvinylpyrrolidone are mixed together,the mixture is screened and worked with the remaining corn starch andwater to form a granulate which is dried and screened. Thesodiumcarboxymethyl starch and the magnesium stearate are added andmixed in and the mixture is compressed to form tablets of a suitablesize.

C) Ampoule solution active substance according to formula (I) 50 mgsodium chloride 50 mg water for inj.  5 mL

The active substance is dissolved in water at its own pH or optionallyat pH 5.5 to 6.5 and sodium chloride is added to make it isotonic. Thesolution obtained is filtered free from pyrogens and the filtrate istransferred under aseptic conditions into ampoules which are thensterilised and sealed by fusion. The ampoules contain 5 mg, 25 mg and 50mg of active substance.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for the treatment of a diseasewhich is cancer, wherein the cancer is selected from carcinomas of thebrain or ovary, melanomas, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), chroniclymphatic leukaemias (CLL) and multiple myeloma (MM), which comprisesadministering to a host suffering from a cancer a therapeuticallyeffective amount of a compound of formula I

wherein R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —C₁₋₃alkyland halogen; R² is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen,—C₁₋₃alkyl and halogen; R³ is selected from the group consisting ofphenyl,

R⁴ is a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl substituted with —C₁₋₃alkyl or—O—C₁₋₃alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or apharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula 1 and apharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe compound of formula 1 according to claim 1 is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceuticalcomposition thereof.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound offormula 1 according to claim 1 is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceuticalcomposition thereof.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound offormula 1 according to claim 1 is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceuticalcomposition thereof.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound offormula 1 according to claim 1 is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceuticalcomposition thereof.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound offormula 1 according to claim 1 is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceuticalcomposition thereof.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound offormula 1 according to claim 1 is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceuticalcomposition thereof.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound offormula 1 according to claim 1 is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceuticalcomposition thereof.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound offormula 1 according to claim 1 is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceuticalcomposition thereof.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound offormula 1 according to claim 1 is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceuticalcomposition thereof.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound offormula 1 according to claim 1 is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceuticalcomposition thereof.